AB 1874 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vehicles: driver's license suspension and revocation.

Summary

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to immediately revoke the driving privilege of a person upon receipt of a duly certified abstract of the record of a court showing that the person has been convicted of, among other things, certain types of manslaughter. Existing law prohibits the department from reinstating that driving privilege until 3 years after the date of revocation. This bill would additionally prohibit the department from reinstating the driving privilege of a person convicted of those specified crimes and sentenced to incarceration in the state prison or county jail until 3 years after the date of release.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/12/26 - Introduced → 03/26/26 - Amended Assembly · 4 edits · Mar 26, 2026

MODERATE

The amended version of AB 1874 adds a new Section 1 that amends Vehicle Code Section 13351 to specifically prohibit the DMV from reinstating the driving privilege of individuals convicted of serious vehicle-related crimes (manslaughter, repeat DUIs, or violent offenses causing serious bodily injury) who are incarcerated until 3 years after their release from confinement. The original provision (now renumbered as Section 2) remains unchanged and ensures court-ordered license suspensions begin upon release from custody rather than running concurrently with incarceration.

Scope change

The bill expanded from a general rule about when all court-ordered license suspensions begin (upon release from custody) to also include a specific provision targeting individuals convicted of serious vehicle-related crimes who are incarcerated, ensuring their driving privilege cannot be reinstated until 3 years after release rather than potentially being eligible immediately upon release.

ELIGIBILITY

New Section 1 amends Vehicle Code Section 13351 to add subdivision (c), which prohibits the DMV from reinstating a revoked driving privilege for individuals convicted of specified serious crimes (vehicle manslaughter, three or more DUI-related violations within 12 months, or certain violent offenses causing serious bodily injury) who are imprisoned in county jail or state prison until 3 years after release from confinement AND proof of financial responsibility is provided.

SCOPE

The bill's scope expanded from a single general provision (Section 13107) about when court-ordered suspensions begin, to also include a targeted provision for serious vehicle-crime offenders who are incarcerated, ensuring their license cannot be restored until 3 years post-release rather than potentially being eligible immediately upon release if the original 3-year revocation period had already elapsed.

FISCAL

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amendment triggers a requirement for fiscal impact analysis, likely due to the new DMV administrative obligations under the amended Section 13351.

TECHNICAL

Coauthors Assembly Members Ellis, Davies, and Macedo were added to the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 6, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 24).

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and TRANS.

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors